This article provides a list of the essential steps to keeping a school's or district's network safe and sound. It describes how to establish a security architecture and approach that will continually evolve as the threat environment changes over time. The article discusses the methodology for implementing this approach and then discusses the…

School nurses access an enormous amount of information through the Internet. Although most avid computer users are savvy to the threat of viruses to the integrity of data, many who surf the Web do not know that their data and the functioning of their computer is at risk to another hidden threat--spyware. This article will describe spyware, why it…

In this electronic age, where information is digital and service is virtual, the registrar profession is changing rapidly to keep up with increasing standards and expectations. EDI and now XML standards enable system-to-system exchanges of academic records information. While many of the registrar's profession display student academic records under…

Spyware is the general term that describes a collection of technologies that help external parties in "gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge." In addition to the minor annoyances spyware generates, such as redirected pages, redirected searches, and pop-up ads, a spyware infection can have more malicious…

By providing the public with online computing facilities, librarians make available a world of information resources beyond their traditional print materials. Internet-connected computers in libraries greatly enhance the opportunity for patrons to enjoy the benefits of the digital age. Unfortunately, as hackers become more sophisticated and…

The current higher education, both distance education and traditional campus courses, relies more and more on modern information and communication technologies (ICT). The use of computer systems and networks results in a wide range of security issues that must be dealt with in order to create a safe learning environment. In this work, we study the…

The concept of "publishing" has changed again, just in the last few years, due to YouTube, Blogger, Second Life, Flickr, and other new social networking tools (John Marshall Law School, 2005). Whether they are making it possible for everyone to view a video on YouTube on how to install a hard drive on a Mac, add a collaborative student writing…

E-safety issues have come to the fore of thinking about young people's use of the internet because of their vulnerable position with regard to contact with people who may take advantage of them. The "Byron Review" in the UK makes explicit the steps that need to be taken to protect internet users. Based upon research across four United…

The ethical development of information systems is but one of those sensitive scenarios associated with computer technology that has a tremendous impact on individuals and social life. The significance of these issues of concern cannot be overstated. However, since computer ethics is meant to be everybody's responsibility, the result can often be…

We have developed a computer security workshop designed to instruct post-secondary instructors who want to start a course or laboratory exercise sequence in computer security. This workshop has also been used to provide computer security education to IT professionals and students. It is effective in communicating basic computer security principles…

Seeing an institution's name in the headlines for a security breach may be among a CIO's-- and a president's--worst nightmares. Whether the breached data involves social security numbers, credit card accounts, clinical records, or research, this is bad news. Federal agencies that provide research funding may lose confidence in data integrity,…

Asmall library's essential technical problem is that it has to chart a course through the technology shoals without a navigator on board. Small libraries in small towns often have a very low level of technical skill on staff. Furthermore, obtaining skilled technical support can frequently be pretty expensive. Even when one is available, a clever…

An effective systems librarian must understand security vulnerabilities and be proactive in preventing problems. Specifics of future attacks or security challenges cannot possibly be anticipated, but this paper suggests some simple measures that can be taken to make attacks less likely to occur: program the operating system to get automatic…

Studied a server security breach at the University of Memphis, Tennessee, to highlight personnel roles, detection of the compromised server, policy enforcement, forensics, and the proactive search for other servers threatened in the same way. (SLD)

Discusses security problems and solutions for networked organizations with Internet connections. Topics include access to private networks from electronic mail information; computer viruses; computer software; corporate espionage; firewalls, that is computers that stand between a local network and the Internet; passwords; and physical security.…